Faithful Witness
Urbana, North America’s largest student missions conference, has been guiding students in discerning their place in God's mission since 1946. Over 10,000 college students and alumni from the United States, Canada and beyond descended on St. Louis, Missouri, for Urbana 18, five vibrant days of multi-lingual worship, thoughtful speakers, in-depth Scripture study and compelling conversations about God's heart for the world.
Ruth Hubbard, Vice President of Urbana team, said the event invites conversation about all aspects of the Great Commission—not just evangelism and discipleship, but justice, compassion, and stewardship.
“It’s a call to be holistic and incarnational in our witness,” Hubbard explained.
Drawing on the book of Revelation, the theme of Urbana 18 was "Faithful Witness." As we dove into Revelation's exhortation to persevere in trials and share the truth of Jesus with those around us, we were strengthened in hope.
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"Jesus is not coming to win anything. Jesus is coming because He already won everything." René Breuel, author and founding pastor of Hopera church in Rome, unveiled the book of Revelation in accessible ways. He exhorted us to remember that the Gospel is "not fine-tuning, but open-heart surgery," warned us of the dangers of self-sufficiency instead of dependence on Jesus as our source, and encouraged us with the ultimate triumph of the King of Kings. Click here to watch one of René's talks.
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Each afternoon, participants explored missions, witness, and faith through seminars, missions agencies, community spaces and quiet reflection in our worship and prayer rooms.
During main sessions, students and alumni shared testimonies about how God has prompted them to take risks to start something new on campus. Patience Lucas, a student in the Southwest, proclaimed, "I listened for God's call. I said "Yes" and I found Him across cities, campuses and continents."
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We have new brothers and sisters! Halfway through the conference, Urbana speaker Beth Paz invited students to make first-time commitments to Christ. The Lord moved over 300 students to make an adult decision for Jesus. They stood and raised a white flag in honor of their commitments. Afterwards, InterVarsity staff provided Bibles and follow up discipleship.
Please pray for these new believers to grow strong in their faith as they return to campus.
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Called to Whole World, Whole Life Discipleship
Six of us from the Rochester and Buffalo went to Urbana where God opened our eyes to a larger vision of what he is doing in and for the whole world and stirred us to take new steps in following him on campus as whole world, whole life disciples.
We were called at Urbana to follow Jesus, no matter the cost, and to pursue the hope, healing and justice of Christ wherever it is absent.
As we have returned back to campus with our hearts stirred by this larger vision and calling from God, we are preparing to take new steps and new risks this Spring.
We are launching a new GIG (God Investigation Group) to give our colleagues and peers space to meet Jesus for themselves, have planned a couple outreach events on campus that will aim to stimulate open and honest conversation around questions of faith and science, and are setting some goals to grow the size and structures of our witness to the university.
Look for updates on these next steps in future prayer letters this Spring. In the meantime, please pray.
Please pray for,
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Thank you for your prayers and support which helps students become life-long followers of Jesus and faithful witnesses to His kingdom! If you'd like to enjoy a taste of Urbana, you can watch speakers and seminars by clicking below.
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Grace and Peace,
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